Malaysia’s inflation increased 1.3% in August with the index points standing at 134.9 against 133.2 during the same month last year, said the statistics department.
The department said the increase in the consumer price index (CPI) was driven by a higher increase in insurance and financial services, which went up 5.6% from 5.5% in July 2025.
“The growth was also influenced by personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods and services, which stood at 4% from 3.9% in July; restaurant and accommodation services at 3.5% from 3.1%; and education at 2.4% from 2.2%.
“It also includes the rise of food and beverages at 2.0% from 1.9%; recreation, sport and culture at 0.9% from 0.8% and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance groups at 0.2% from 0.1%,” it said.
The department said the inflation of food away from home remained at 4.3%, the same as in July, while food at home decreased -0.1% in August from -0.3% in July.
Chief statistician Uzir Mahidin said 342 out of 573 items in the CPI basket, or 59.7%, recorded price increases last month.
Of this total, 332 items, or 97.1% of the 342, registered an increase of less than or equal to 10%, while only 10 items recorded increases of more than 10%.
“The remaining 185 items (32.3%) showed a decline, and 46 items remained unchanged,” he said.
At the state level, Uzir said 10 states recorded increases below the national inflation rate of 1.3%, with Kelantan recording the lowest rate of 0.1%.
However, four states recorded increases above the national inflation level, namely Johor (2.%), Selangor (1.5%), Terengganu (1.5%) and Negeri Sembilan (1.4%).
